128 Team MLB Tournament - Regional Final: 1909 Chicago Cubs v. 2011 Philadelphia Phillies

  Cubs v. Yankees

14. 1909 Chicago Cubs v. 126. 2011 NL East Champion Philadelphia Phillies 

There's a universe with a poem that begins "these are the saddest of all possible words, Rollins to Utley to Howard."

Frank Chance, Johnny Evers, Joe Tinker played together in the Cub infield for nearly the entire first decade of the 10th century. They're the cornerstone of a team that won titles in '07 and '08. 

Ryan Howard, Chase Utley, Jimmy Rollins played together in the Phillies infield even longer than that.  

In 1909 - the Cubs strength is starting pitching - two 8 WAR pitchers right at the top of the rotation.

In 2011 - the Phillies strength is starting pitching - two 8 WAR pitchers right at the top of the rotation.  

Separated by over a hundred years - but mirror images - it's the Cubs and Phillies, 7 games, winner advanced to the Elite 8 to join the '77 Yankees and 2017 Dodgers. 

Cubs 104-49 (Pythag: 109-44)  Mgr. Frank Chance

d. #115 2004 Red Sox 2-1 (MVP-Ed Reulbach)

d. #78  1978 Yankees 3-2 (MVP-Orvall Overall)

d. #19  1953 Yankees 3-1 (MVP-Pat Moran)

Hall of Famers: Three Finger Brown, Frank Chance, Johnny Evers, Joe Tinker

This Cub team had a 109-44 pythagorean record and finished in 2nd in the NL, 6 1/2 behind the Pirates. The Cubs won the pennant in '06, '07, '08, '10.  The pitching staff had a 1.75 ERA. This team was looking to three-peat, the Cubs having won the World Series in '07 and '08. 

Phillies 102-60 (Pythag 103-59) Mgr. Charlie Manuel (4th in NL Mgr of Year)

1st in NL East

Lost NLDS 3-2 to Cardinals

d. #3 1906 Cubs 2-0 (MVP-Roy Halladay)

d. #62 1999 Yankees 3-0 (MVP-Hunter Pence)

d. #30 1904 Giants 3-0 (MVP-Shane Victorino)

All-Stars: SP Roy Halladay (2nd in NL Cy Young) SP Cole Hamels (5th in NL Cy Young) SP Cliff Lee (3rd in NL Cy Young) 3B Placido Polanco, OF Shane Victorino

Hall of Famers: Roy Halladay

This was the Phillies 5th straight NL East title and the second straight year they had the best record in MLB. They won the division by 13 games. They lost game 5 of the NLDS 1-0 at home to St Louis. 

Phillies

CF Victorino (30) (SH)  130  5.4

2B Utley (32)    (LH)      110  3.5

1B Howard (31)  (LH)    126  1.9

RF Pence (28)         159   2.1

LF Mayberry (27)   131  2

SS Rollins (32)  (SH)      101  3.5

C Ruiz (32)             108  2.6

3B Polanco (35)      86    2.3

P Halladay (34)       163 7.8

Bench

LF Ibanez (39) (LH) 91

RF Brown (23) (LH) 98

3B Valdez (33) 74

RF Francisco (29) 94

3B Martinez (28) (SH) 48

C Schneider (34) (LH) 38

1B Gload (35) (LH) 65

Game 2 SP: Lee (LH) (32)  160  8.1

Game 3 SP: Hamels (LH) (27)  137  6.1

Game 4: Worley (23)  127

Cubs

2B Evers (27)  (LH) 116   4.2

LF Sheckard (30) (LH) 109  2

CF Hofman (26)  115    4.1

1B Chance (32)  110     1.9

RF Schulte (26) (LH) 100     .1

3B Steinfeldt (33) 105  3.2

SS Tinker (28)    99      4.6

C Moran (33)     72       1.1

P Overall (28) 179   8.5

Bench:

C Archer (26)   71   .7

2B Zimmerman (22)  93  .1

1B Howard (31) (LH) 63

Game 2: Reulbach (26)  143  5

Game 3 Brown (32)     193      8.5 

Game 4: Kroh (22) (LH) 155

Lineups:

C-Ruiz, Moran had the big semi-final, but you have to take Ruiz here

1B-Push, Chance/Howard nearly identical at this point in their careers

2B-Evers, he and Tinker a few years younger than their Phillies counterparts

SS-Tinker

3B-Steinfeldt

LF-push

CF-Victorino

RF-Pence, the position players are tied

SP1-Overall

SP2-Lee

SP3-Brown

SP4-Kroh, the Cubs have the starting pitching advantage

Pen-Phils

WAR: Cubs 6 Phils 5, Cubs have the much, much better seed giving them home field, they edge the Phils in WAR, it's Victorino who is the best position player and the Phils, it must be stated - are undefeated in this tournament, a remarkable 8-0.  Cubs are your favorite, but you have to expect some tough, taut pitchers duels.

GAME ONE

1st: The 1977 Yankees and 2017 Dodgers are safely into the Elite 8 - one of these two squads will join them. 28 year old RH Orval Overall was MVP of the Cubs round 2 win over the '78 Yankees, 20-11, 1.42. Overall went to Cal, played football and baseball, signed with the Reds in '05 and had a 2.86 ERA (and lost 23 games). They sold him to the Cubs the following year; in '07 he won 23 games with a 1.68 ERA. In '08, Orvall's ERA was 1.92. Orvall was third in ERA this season. With one out, he hits Chase Utley - that's all.

1st: The Phillies have already beaten a version of this Cubs team - back, back, back in Round 1 the Phillies took out the third overall seed in the tournament, the 1906 Cubs and the MVP of that series was Roy Halladay. 34 yer old RH, 19-6, 2.35.  Halladay's from Denver; went 17th overall in '95 by the Jays after high school.  At the end of the '98 season, he came up, came within an out of a no hitter in his second start.  It wasnt until '02 that he broke out, 19-7, 2.93, made the All Star team.  Halladay won the Cy Young the next year, winning 15 games in a row at one point and finishing 22-7. He was an All Star in '05 and '06, finished 2nd in the Cy Young in '08 to Cliff Lee (who will be pitching for the Phils in game 2).  Before the '10 season he was shipped to the Phillies - pitched a perfect game against the Marlins - won 21 games and another Cy Young.  In Game 1 of the NLDS, Halladay no hit the Reds.  This year he was second in the Cy Young, his 7th top 5 finish.  1-2-3

2nd: Jimmy Rollins singles with one away. The Phils shortstop is 32, grew up in Oakland, drafted by the Phils in the second round in '96 after high school, got called up late in '00. In '01 and '02 he led the NL in triples and steals. In '05-'06 Rollins had a 38 game hit streak; in '07 he hit 30 homers and was named NL MVP and in '08 the Phillies won the World Series (the Cubs won it a hundred years before). Rollins had 9 hits in this year's NLDS.  Carlos Ruiz reaches on an error and then Placido Polanco clears the bases with a double down the right field line. After the second out Shane Victorino singles home the third run.  Utley singles - it ends here.  Phillies 3 Cubs 0

2nd: 32 year old Frank Chance singles.  Lot of California in this game - Chance is from Fresno, went to Washington College and signed with the Cubs in 1898. Chance was a backup catcher for his first few years in the league, moving to first in '03 and leading the league in steals. Chance added the managerial role in '05 in '06 the Cubs won 116 games (and got swept by these Phillies in the tournament) and then won the World Series in '07 and '08. Chance steals second, moves to third on the first out of the inning and scores on a Harry Steinfeldt sac fly. Joe Tinker doubles.  Pat Moran singles.  Men on the corners - but that's all.  Phillies 3 Cubs 1

3rd: 28 year old Hunter Pence singles.  Pence is from Texas, went to U-T Arlington, Houston took him in the second round in '04, debuted with the big club in 2007, made the All Star team in '08.  The Phils got him at the break this year, in 54 games with the Phillies Pence hit .324 and was MVP in their round 2 win over the '99 Yankees.  Overall gets the next 3.

3rd: 1-2-3

4th: 1-2-3

4th: 33 year old Harry Steinfeldt singles with 2 out.  Steinfeldt grew up in Ft Worth; signed with Detroit in the Western League in 1896, then with the Reds in '98, traded to the Cubs after the '05 season.  In '06 he led the league in RBI, in the '07 World Series Steinfeldt hit .471. That's all Halladay allows. 

5th: 1-2-3, Overall sets down 9 straight.

5th: 1-2-3

6th: Carlos Ruiz reaches on a 2 out error; Placido Polanco walks -- and then Halladay comes through with a run scoring single.  Victorino walks to load the bases - and then an Overall wild pitch scores another run.  The Phils are 8-0 in this tournament and now rolling through game 1.  Phillies 5 Cubs 1

6th: 1-2-3, 7 straight for Halladay

7th: With one out, Pence and John Maybery walk.  After the second out, Ruiz reaches on a run scoring error. This one looks done.  Phillies 6 Cubs 1

7th: 1-2-3, 10 in a row for Halladay, the Cubs have just 4 hits.

8th: 1-2-3, just 6 hits for the Phillies today, but they've made them count.

8th: Pat Moran singles - Overall hit 2 homers during the season - but he stays in the game, hits for himself - and hits a 2 run homer to cut the deficit to 6-3. Halladay shakes it off.  Phillies 6 Cubs 3

9th: Pence walks with one out - Rollins singles after the second out - and Ruiz provides the safety, a run scoring single. Polanco follows with a run scoring single. Halladay and Victorino each hit run scoring singles and it is a route.  Irv Higginbotham comes on for the Cubs, 27 year old RH, 2.19. That's the end of the inning.  Too late for the Cubs.  Phillies 10 Cubs 3

9th: Chance singles, 2 outs later Tinker singles him home.  And that's the end.

Phillies 10

Cubs 4

WP Halladay

LP Overall

Complete game win for Halladay and the Phillies are now 9-0. 

Victorino 3x

Utley 1x

Pence 3x

Mayberry 1x

Rollins 2x

Ruiz 1x

Polanco 3x/double

Halladay 2x

Chance 2x

Steinfeldt 1x

Tinker 2x/double

Moran 2x

Overall 1x/HR

CF Victorino (30) (SH)  130  5.4

2B Utley (32)    (LH)      110  3.5

1B Howard (31)  (LH)    126  1.9

RF Pence (28)         159   2.1

LF Mayberry (27)   131  2

SS Rollins (32)  (SH)      101  3.5

C Ruiz (32)             108  2.6

3B Polanco (35)      86    2.3

P: Lee (LH) (32)  160  8.1

CF Hofman (26)  115    4.1

1B Chance (32)  110     1.9

2B Evers (27)  (LH) 116   4.2

3B Steinfeldt (33) 105  3.2

LF Sheckard (30) (LH) 109  2

SS Tinker (28)    99      4.6

RF Schulte (26) (LH) 100     .1

C Moran (33)     72       1.1

Game 2: Reulbach (26)  143  5

GAME TWO

1st: The 2011 Phillies entered as the 126th overall seed - they've won all 9 games they've played in the tournament and are now 3 wins short of taking Region 3.  26 year old RH Ed Reulbach is tasked with stopping them.  19-10, 1.78. Reulbach's from Detroit, went to Notre Dame and then to medical school at Vermont, where he continued to play baseball (he wasn't there long, signing with the Cubs in '05). He had a 1.42 ERA as a rookie in 1905, over '06-07 Reulbach won 17 consecutive games and in '08 had a 44 consecutive scoreless inning streak. He gives up a Shane Victorino single, that's all.

1st: If 32 year old lefty Cliff Lee can match Roy Halladay's game one performance, the Phillies will head home up 2-0.  17-8, 2.40. Lee went to Arkansas; the Expos took him in the 4th round in 2000 and two years later dealt him, Brandon Phillips and Grady Sizemore to Cleveland with Bartolo Colon headed back.  Late that year, he made his debut.  In '05, Lee was 4th in the Cy Young; in '08, he went 22-3 and won the Cy Young. At the '09 deadline, he went to the Phillies, with Carlos Carrasco and Jason Donald among those headed back. Lee went 2-0 in the '09 World Series, throwing a complete game. At the end of the year, he was onto the Mariners and in mid-2010 was dealt to the Rangers.  Lee struck out 21 in the '10 ALDS; in the offseason, he headed back to Philadelphia and finished third in the Cy Young. 1-2-3

2nd: John Mayberry doubles; Mayberry's from Kansas City, his dad was an All Star first baseman in the 70s; he went to Stanford, the Rangers took him 19th overall in '05 and he was sent to the Phillies organization before the '09 season. Maybery was up and down the next two seasons - this year he played in 104 games and hit .273. An out later, Carlos Ruiz doubles him home.  Reulbach hits Polanco - that's all.  Phillies 1 Cubs 0

2nd: 1-2-3

3rd: Chase Utley singles with one out.  A win in this series would give Utley 2 spots in the Elite 8; six years from now he'll be platooning at second for LA. Utley's from the city they call Long Beach, went to UCLA. The Phils took him 15th in 2000. Utley came up in '03, had a 35 game hit streak in '06, hit 33 homers in 2008, and hit 5 homers in the 2009 World Series. Ryan Howard singles - men on the corners. That's all.  

3rd: 1-2-3, 9 up, 9 down.  

4th: Carlos Ruiz has the game's only RBI and he singles with 1 away. The 32 year old catcher is Panamanian, signed with the Phils in '98 and made his debut 8 years later.  Ruiz got the starting job in '07, this year he started 113 games.  Polanco follows with a single, he's reached 5 times.  That's it.

4th: Frank Chance singles with one away, the Cubs have a baserunner.  27 year old Johnny Evers then walks.  Evers is 125 pounds - this is a very different time to be a human.  He signed with the Cubs out of Troy, New York in '02, he came up at the end of the season and joined Joe Tinker in the middle of the Cub diamond.  They didn't speak off the field.  Evers hit .350 in the '08 Series. After the second out Jimmy Sheckard walks, and then Joe Tinker singles home 2 runs and the Cubs have the lead.  Frank Schulte singles to load them again, that's all.  Phillies 1 Cubs 2

5th: Pence is hit with one out -- that's two Phillies hit today and now that needs to be on the radar; you get a team like the Phillies winning 9 straight in this tournament, eventually an old school team might decide to go get some scalps.  It ends here.  

5th: Reulbach helps himself with a double.  26 year old Solly Hofman singles him to third.  Hofman's from St Louis; signed with the Pirates in '03, acquired by the Cubs in '04. He was the Cub utility man until this year, when he became the regular center fielder. Lee gets Chance to ground into a double play - but it scores another run.  Phils 1 Cubs 3

6th: Ruiz singles, his third hit of the day, but that's all - and now the Cubs are 9 outs away from handing the Phillies their first loss.  

6th: 1-2-3

7th: 1-2-3, Reulbach 6 outs from evening this series.

7th: 1-2-3, 9 straight for Lee, but is it too little?

8th: 1-2-3, and now Reulbach's retired 9 in a row and the Phils are about to go down for the first time in the tournament.  

8th: Hofman singles. Lee gets two - but Hofman steals second and scores the insurance run on a Steinfeldt single.  It's about to end.  Phils 1 Cubs 4

9th: Domonic Brown comes on to hit for Lee - and he gets hit.  3 hit batsmen today by the Cubs.  

Victorino flies to left.

And Utley grounds to Tinker -- onto Evers -- onto Chance.  Ballgame.

Phils 1

Cubs 4

WP Reulbach

LP Lee

Complete game win for Reulbach and the Cubs have handed the Phillies their first loss of the tournament.  We head to Philly for 3.

Chance 3x

Hofman 2x

Evers 1x

Steinfeldt 2x

Sheckard 1x

Tinker 3x/double

Schulte 1x

Moran 2x

Overall 1x/HR

Victorino 4x

Utley 2x

Pence 4x

Howard 1x

Mayberry 2x/double

Rollins 2x

Ruiz 4x/double

Polanco 5x/double

Halladay 2x

CF Hofman (26)  115    4.1

1B Chance (32)  110     1.9

3B Steinfeldt (33) 105  3.2

LF Sheckard (30) (LH) 109  2

SS Tinker (28)    99      4.6

2B Zimmerman (22)  93  .1

RF Schulte (26) (LH) 100     .1

C Archer (26)   71   .7

Game 3 Brown (32)     193      8.5 

CF Victorino (30) (SH)  130  5.4

2B Utley (32)    (LH)      110  3.5

1B Howard (31)  (LH)    126  1.9

RF Pence (28)         159   2.1

SS Rollins (32)  (SH)      101  3.5

C Ruiz (32)             108  2.6

LF Ibanez (39) (LH) 91

3B Polanco (35)      86    2.3

Game 3 SP: Hamels (LH) (27)  137  6.1

GAME THREE

1st:  Citizen's Bank Park is the venue for the next 3 games of the series - and it's 27 year old lefty Cole Hamels who is standing on the mound. 14-9, 2.79. Hamels is from San Diego, scored 1510 on his SAT. Phillies took him 17th overall in '02, came up in '06. All-Star in '07, MVP of both the 2008 NLCS and the 2008 World Series.  Hamels was 5th in the Cy Young this year, behind teammates Lee (3rd) and Halladay (2nd).  Solly Hofman doubles.  Frank Chance doubles and before the seats are even filled its 1-0.  After the first out, Jimmy Sheckard singles -- has the spell been broken?  Has the slipper fallen off?  Cubs 2 Phillies 0

1st: Three Finger Brown goes for the Cubs.  32 year old RH, 27-9, 1.31. Brown's from Indiana, he lost his right index finger as a child and had a second hand injury impacting two other fingers.  He pitched semi-pro, then in the Western League, and signed with the Cardinals in '03 who dealt him to the Cubs in the offseason.  In '04, his ERA was 1.86, in '06 it was 1.04. In '07 it was 1.39. Brown won 29 games in '08, pitched in 11 of the Cubs last 14 regular season games and came out of the pen to beat the Giants in a one game playoff for the pennant. 1-2-3

2nd: 1-2-3

2nd: Hunter Pence triples.  He scores on a Jimmy Rollins groundout.  Cubs 2 Phillies 1

3rd: Hofman walks with one away, Chance then doubles again - and Harry Steinfeldt drives both men home with a base hit - the Cubs are all over Hamels.  Cubs 4 Phillies 1

3rd: 1-2-3

4th: 26 year old Wildfire Frank Schulte singles with 2 away. Schulte's from upstate New York, played in Syracuse in the New York State League, signed with the Cubs in '04. Schilte hit in each World Series game in '07-'08. Hamels stops it here.

4th: 1-2-3, 9 straight for Brown, the Phils have one baserunner.

5th: 1-2-3

5th: Rollins leads off with a single - 2 outs later Placido Polanco singles. Polanco's 35; he's Dominican, drafted by the Cards in the 19th round in '94, called up in '98, dealt to the Phillies for Scott Rolen at the '02 deadline.  3 years later he was sent to the Tigers for Ugeth Urbina, he was MVP in the 2006 ALCS; in '07, Polanco didn't commit an error as the Tigers regular second baseman and in 2010 he returned to Philadelphia. Polanco made the All Star team this year.  Brown keeps the Phils from the scoreboard.

6th: 1-2-3, 7 straight for Hamels.

6th: 1-2-3, Brown's 9 outs from the Cubs taking game 3.

7th: Heinie Zimmerman doubles; Chance inserted the 22 year old Zimmerman in at second today against the lefty Hamels. He's from the Bronx; the Cubs signed him out of the New York State League in '06. He's a utilityman. 1-2-3

7th: 1-2-3, 7 straight for Brown - he's given up just 3 hits and the Cubs are rolling toward this series lead.

8th: Steinfeldt singles with 2 away, that's all.

8th: Polanco singles with one away; he's reached 7 times, leading both squads. But thats it.

9th: 24 year old RH Michael Stutes takes over for the Phils; 3.63. He walks Tinker who steals second. Zimmerman and Schulte single back to back; it's now 5-1 and this one is done. Cubs 5 Phillies 1

9th: Utley singles - Brown gets a double play from Howard and he's an out away.

Pence singles.

Rollins singles.

Ruiz pops to Steinfeldt and that's all

Cubs 5

Phillies 1

WP Brown

LP Hamels

An easy one for Brown and it's the Cubs who now have command of the series - 4th starters go next; can the Phils get back into this?

Chance 6x/2 doubles

Hofman 4x/double

Evers 1x

Steinfeldt 4x

Sheckard 2x

Tinker 4x/double

Schulte 3x

Moran 2x

Zimmerman 2x/double

Overall 1x/HR

Victorino 4x

Utley 3x

Pence 6x/triple

Howard 1x

Mayberry 2x/double

Rollins 3x

Ruiz 4x/double

Polanco 7x/double

Halladay 2x

2B Evers (27)  (LH) 116   4.2

LF Sheckard (30) (LH) 109  2

CF Hofman (26)  115    4.1

1B Chance (32)  110     1.9

RF Schulte (26) (LH) 100     .1

3B Steinfeldt (33) 105  3.2

SS Tinker (28)    99      4.6

C Moran (33)     72       1.1

Game 4: Kroh (22) (LH) 155

CF Victorino (30) (SH)  130  5.4

C Ruiz (32)             108  2.6

RF Pence (28)         159   2.1

LF Mayberry (27)   131  2

1B Howard (31)  (LH)    126  1.9

SS Rollins (32)  (SH)      101  3.5

2B Utley (32)    (LH)      110  3.5

3B Polanco (35)      86    2.3

Game 4: Worley (23)  127

GAME FOUR

1st: The Phils won 9 straight - but have lost games 2 and 3 and are now looking up at the Cubs and relying on their 4th starter, 23 year old RH Vance Worley. 11-3, 3.01. Worley's from Sacramento, went to Cal St Long Beach, the Phils took him in the third round in '08. He pitched in 5 games last year, and this is officially his rookie year.  Worley was third in the Rookie of the Year. Jimmy Sheckard singles with one away, after the second out Frank Chance walks - the Cubs manager has reached 7 times, pacing his squad.  That's all.

1st: 22 year old lefty Rube Kroh 9-4, 1.65. Kroh's from Friendship, NY - dropped out of high school to sign with Boston in '06, released in '08, picked up by the Cubs. 1909 is his career best year. Shane Victorino singles. The 30 year old CF is Hawaiian, drafted by the Dodgers in the 6th round in '99. The Padres scooped him up and he made his big league debut in '02, they let him go, he was back in the LA organization and eventually on to the Phillies in '04, getting called up in '05. In '09, Victorino made the All Star team.  Carlos Ruiz singles. Hunter Pence grounds out, scoring the game's first run.  After the second out, Ryan Howard singles, that's it.  Cubs 0 Phillies 1

2nd: 1-2-3

2nd: With 2 outs, Worley helps himself with a single and Victorino walks.  Ruiz and Pence each hit run scoring singles.  The Phils are off and running.  Cubs 0 Phillies 3

3rd: Sheckard singles again with 2 away, nothing results.  

3rd: 1-2-3

4th: Chance walks again, steals second, scores on a Frank Schulte double.  2 outs later 33 year old catcher Pat Moran singles.  Moran's from Mass, played semi-pro, signed with Boston in '01, send to the Cubs before the '06 season, largely serving as the backup catcher.  That's all.  Cubs 1 Phillies 3

4th: 1-2-3, 7 straight for Kroh.

5th: Johnny Evers is back in the lineup today, he singles. That's all.

5th: 1-2-3, 10 straight for Kroh

6th: Steinfeldt walks with 2 away, that's all.  Nice outing for Worley in a big spot.  

6th: Ryan Howard walks.  The 31 year old first baseman is from Missouri, went to Missouri St, taken by the Phillies in the fifth round in '01. Howard came up late in '04 and was Rookie of the Year in '05, hitting 22 homers. In 2006 Howard hit 58 homers and won the NL MVP. He was 2nd in '08 and hit 3 homers in the World Series. Howard was NLCS MVP in '09, and in this year's NLDS he tore his achilles.  Rollins singles, Utley walks - and the Phils have the bases loaded with nobody out and a chance to end this one.  Polanco sac fly scores a run.  That's all Kroh allows.  Cubs 1 Philies 4

7th: Michael Stutes comes on for the Phils - bullpen time for Charlie Manuel. 1-2-3

7th: Irv Higginbotham enters for the Cubs - 1-2-3

8th: Stutes his Sheckard. Walks Hofman.  Chance singles and here we go, bases loaded and nobody out.  Schulte walks and it's 4-2. Schulte gets 1 -- but then Joe Tinker singles..one run scores...two run scores and this game is tied.  David Herndon now enters for the Phillies - he gives up a Moran single -- and the Cubs have come all the way back and taken the lead.  Cubs 5 Phillies 4

8th: Well, this one turned around in a hurry - Cubs now 6 outs away from going up 3 games to 1 in this Regional Final.  Phils really up against it now.  The 23 year old RH Rip Hagerman enters for Chicago. Howard singles. But that's all.

9th: Evers reaches on an error, steals second, and Jimmy Sheckard singles to make it 6-4 and this Philly crowd is shocked.  Hofman triples - and now it's 7-4 and this one sure looks done.  Herndon gets one - but Schulte then doubles and another scores. 33 year old RH Danys Baez comes on to end it.  Cubs 8 Phillies 4

9th: Raul Ibanez comes off the bench and pinch singles but nothing else.

Cubs 8

Phillies 4

WP Higginbotham

LP Stutes

Sv Hagerman

It turns fans, the Phils were positioned to even up the series, but the Cubs ripped apart the Philly bullpen and now are a game away from advancing.

Chance 9x/2 doubles

Hofman 6x/double, triple

Evers 2x

Steinfeldt 5x

Sheckard 6x

Tinker 5x/double

Schulte 6x/2 doubles

Moran 4x

Zimmerman 2x/double

Overall 1x/HR

Victorino 6x

Utley 4x

Pence 7x/triple

Howard 4x

Mayberry 2x/double

Rollins 4x

Ruiz 6x/double

Polanco 7x/double

Halladay 2x

2B Evers (27)  (LH) 116   4.2

LF Sheckard (30) (LH) 109  2

CF Hofman (26)  115    4.1

1B Chance (32)  110     1.9

RF Schulte (26) (LH) 100     .1

3B Steinfeldt (33) 105  3.2

SS Tinker (28)    99      4.6

C Moran (33)     72       1.1

P Overall (28) 179   8.5

CF Victorino (30) (SH)  130  5.4

2B Utley (32)    (LH)      110  3.5

1B Howard (31)  (LH)    126  1.9

RF Pence (28)         159   2.1

SS Rollins (32)  (SH)      101  3.5

C Ruiz (32)             108  2.6

LF Ibanez (39) (LH) 91

3B Polanco (35)      86    2.3

P Halladay (34)       163 7.8

GAME FIVE

1st: Down 3 games to 1, every day is do or die for these Phillies; they've got the guy they want on the mound in this spot, Roy Halladay, winner of game 1.  Halladay started 2 games in the 2011 NLDS, 1-1, 2.25. 1-2-3

1st: Orval Overall, game 1 loser, comes back out for the Cubs today. In 51 career World Series innings Overall had a 1.58 ERA. Shane Victorino greets him with a single. He's now reached 7 times. Victorino comes all the way around to score on a Chase Utley triple that fires up this home crowd. It's Utley's first extra base hit of the series.  Overall gets the next 3.  Cubs 0 Phils 1

2nd: After 2 out, Halladay hits Steinfeldt - that draws a roar from the crowd which is looking for a receipt for their own batters getting hit earlier in the series.  That's all.  

2nd: Carlos Ruiz singles. Chooch has reached 7 times. That's it.

3rd: Pat Moran singles with one away - he's reached 5 times in the series and sat out a game. That's it.

3rd: 1-2-3

4th: Jimmy Sheckard singles.  The 30 year old LF is from Pennsylvania, signed with Brooklyn in 1897, sent to the Orioles and played for John McGraw in '99, he'd have two more stints in Brooklyn, sandwiching another stint in Baltimore and after the '05 season he was dealt to the Cubs.  Sheckard went 0-21 in the '06 World Series and nearly lost an eye in a fight with Heinie Zimmerman in '08. Halladay gets the next 3.

4th: 1-2-3, Overall's retired 9 in a row.  

5th: Joe Tinker singles with one out, Halladay maintains the shutout. 

5th: Overall gets two, the Polanco singles.  That's all.

6th: Johnny Evers singles. Halladay gets the next 3 - the crowd roars its approval and it remains 1-0.

6th: 1-2-3, each team has just 4 hits.  

7th: Frank Chance singles and steals second.  Tying run in scoring position with no outs.  Halladay strands him at third.  

7th: Pence and Rollins single - are the Phils about to get a little insurance?  Ruiz singles and there it is.  2-0 Phils.  Raul Ibanez is in the lineup today, 39 year old left fielder -- Ibanez went to Miami Dade CC and was drafted in the 36th round by the Mariners in '92. He got his first call up in '96 and went up and down until leaving for Kansas City in '00. In 2004 Ibanez went back to Seattle and had a 24 game hit streak.  In '05 he hit 33 homers. Prior to the '08 season he signed with the Phillies.  Ibanez made the All Star team in '09 and hit .304 in the World Series.  He doubles here -- it scores 2 more and that might do it.  Overall gets the next 3.  Cubs 0 Phillies 4

8th: Moran singles.  Overall homered in game 1, hits for himself here and he singles.  Manuel decides to stick with Halladay - it pays off.  

8th: Utley reaches by error, moves to second on an out, scores on a Pence single.  After the second out, Ruiz singles - Ibanez and Polanco follow with run scoring singles - this one's a rout - we are headed back to Chicago for Game 6.  Cubs 0 Phillies 7

9th: 3 more outs for Halladay.  Schulte singles with 1 out - after the second out Tinker doubles - Charlie Manuel doesn't move from the dugout - Halladay stays in and shuts out the Cubs.  

Cubs 0

Phillies 7

WP Halladay

LP Overall

Must win game - Doc Halladay shuts the Cubs out.  There will be a game 6.

Victorino 7x

Utley 5x/triple

Pence 9x/triple

Howard 4x

Mayberry 2x/double

Rollins 5x

Ruiz 9x/double

Polanco 9x/double

Ibanez 3x/double

Chance 10x/2 doubles

Hofman 6x/double, triple

Evers 3x

Steinfeldt 6x

Sheckard 7x

Tinker 7x/double

Schulte 7x/2 doubles

Moran 6x

Zimmerman 2x/double

Overall 1x/HR

CF Victorino (30) (SH)  130  5.4

2B Utley (32)    (LH)      110  3.5

1B Howard (31)  (LH)    126  1.9

RF Pence (28)         159   2.1

SS Rollins (32)  (SH)      101  3.5

C Ruiz (32)             108  2.6

LF Ibanez (39) (LH) 91

3B Polanco (35)      86    2.3

P: Lee (LH) (32)  160  8.1

CF Hofman (26)  115    4.1

1B Chance (32)  110     1.9

2B Evers (27)  (LH) 116   4.2

3B Steinfeldt (33) 105  3.2

LF Sheckard (30) (LH) 109  2

SS Tinker (28)    99      4.6

RF Schulte (26) (LH) 100     .1

C Moran (33)     72       1.1

Game 2: Reulbach (26)  143  5

GAME SIX

1st: Back to Chicago for Game 6 - Ed Reulbach beat the Phillies in game 2, if he can do it again the Cubs will have won Region 3.  In 32 career World Series innings his ERA was 3.03. 1-2-3

1st: Halladay came up big in game 5 - can Cliff Lee do the same? Lee got one start in the 2011 NLDS, lost, gave up 5 earned. Frank Chance singles with one out.  He's reached 11 times in the series, leading both squads. Chance steals second.  Lee gets the second out - but can't get Harry Steinfeldt, he singles home Chance and the Cubs are in front.  Steinfeldt steals second - the Cubs have come out running - and Jimmy Sheckard singles him home and now it's 2-0. Sheckard steals second -- the Cubs just pounding the basepaths - Joe Tinker singles him home.  Big first inning for the Cubs.  Phillies 0 Cubs 3

2nd: Hunter Pence walks, he's reached 10 times.  An out later Carlos Ruiz singles -- Raul Ibanez is in the lineup again today -- and he stays hot, singling home a run - but Ruiz gets gunned down at third on a big throw by Frank Schulte.  Placido Polanco singles.  Cliff Lee walks to load the bases.  But that's it.  Phillies 1 Cubs 3

2nd: Solly Hofman singles with one away, then steals second - 4 stolen bases already today for the Cubs - Chance singles again and it's 4-1 and the Cubs are threatening to run away with game 6.  Phillies 1 Cubs 4

3rd: Chase Utley singles.  The Phils do not have a homer all series against this Cub staff and man do they need one now.  Overall gets the next 3.  Phillies 1 Cubs 4

3rd: 1-2-3

4th: 1-2-3

4th: 1-2-3, 8 straight for Lee

5th: Lee gets hit - and the Cub fans approve.  Tensions rise. Phillies got hit early in the series, a Cub hit yesterday and this sure feels like a possible reply.  An out later Utley singles again and then Ryan Howard singles home a run.  Phillies 2 Cubs 4

5th: Evers walks with one away, that's all.  

6th: Rollins leads off with a double - he slaps his hands together - let's go - let's go - Ruiz singles him home and the Phils draw closer.  Two outs later Polanco doubles - but that's all.  Phillies 3 Cubs 4

6th: Michael Stutes, who lost game 2, comes on.  Sheckard singles. That's all.  We are heading to the 7th inning.

7th: Utley's aboard again - he walks with one out.  Howard singles again - Pence grounds out - but that scores the tying run.  Phillies 4 Cubs 4

7th: Hofman singles with one out - and then Ruiz guns him down trying to steal - that's a big out for the Phils - we head to the 8th.

8th: Irv Higginbogtham enters.  Tie score.  Game 6.  Cubs can clinch today, Phils trying to force game 7.  1-2-3

8th: David Herndon for the Phils.  1-2-3.  Let's go to the 9th.

9th: 1-2-3 - 6 up and 6 down for Higginbotham.

9th: Ryan Madson for the Phils, 30 year old RH, 2.37, 32 saves. He gets one AND THEN FRANK SCHULTE HOMERS TO DEAD CENTER TO END IT!

The Cubs pour out of the dugout - Schulte hit 4 homers this season but has hit a walk off to win Region 3 - it is the biggest home run of the tournament so far -- a mob scene - a mob scene at home plate -- it feels like all of Chicago is pounding away at Frank Schulte - he hits one of the biggest home runs in Cub history and the 1909 Cubs advance to the Elite 8.

Phillies 4

Cubs 5

WP Higginbotham

LP Madson

Frank Chance reached a dozen times - Schulte 8, but even if he had just reached once, he's the MVP.  

128 Team MLB Tournament - Regional Semi-Final: 1909 Chicago Cubs v. 1953 World Champion New York Yankees

 Giants v. Phillies

14. 1909 Chicago Cubs v. 19. 1953 World Champion New York Yankees

The 2011 Phillies await the winner of this one; the final Tinker/Evers/Chance Cubs team against our first Round of 32 look at one of Casey's Yankees squads.  The Cubs just beat the '78 Yankees in the previous round.  Whichever team wins this series will have home field advantage in the best of 7 Regional Final against a Phillies team that is now 8-0 in the tournament.  

Cubs 104-49 (Pythag: 109-44)  Mgr. Frank Chance

d. #115 2004 Red Sox 2-1 (MVP-Ed Reulbach)

d. #78  1978 Yankees 3-2 (MVP-Orval Overall)

Hall of Famers: Three Finger Brown, Frank Chance, Johnny Evers, Joe Tinker

This Cub team had a 109-44 pythagorean record and finished in 2nd in the NL, 6 1/2 behind the Pirates. The Cubs won the pennant in '06, '07, '08, '10.  The pitching staff had a 1.75 ERA. This team was looking to three-peat, the Cubs having won the World Series in '07 and '08. 

Yankees 99-52 (Pythag 101-50) Mgr. Casey Stengel

Won AL Pennant

d. Dodgers 4-2 in World Series 

d. #110 1998 Astros 2-0 (MVP-Joe Collins)

d. #46   1971 Orioles 3-1 (MVP-Yogi Berra)

All-Stars OF Hank Bauer, C Yogi Berra (2nd AL MVP) OF Mickey Mantle, 1B Johnny Mize, RP Allie Reynolds, SS Phil Rizzuto, RP Johnny Sain

Hall of Famers: Yogi Berra, Whitey Ford, Mickey Mantle, Johnny Mize, Phil Rizzuto, Casey Stengel

Fifth consecutive World Series win for the Yankees.  

Yankees

LF Woodling (30) (LH) 146  3.8

C Berra (28)  (LH)      141   5.6

CF Mantle (21) (SH)  144   4.8

1B Collins (30)  (LH)   120   1.3

RF Bauer (30)     130   3.9

3B McDougald (25)  113  3.7

SS Rizzuto (35)   103   3.4

2B Martin (25)   94       1.5

P Lopat (LH) (35)       152     3.9

Bench: 

LF Renna (28) 132

1B Bollweg (32) (LH) 142

OF Noren (28) (LH) 103

1B Mize (40) (LH) 101

Gm2 Ford (LH) (24)   123     3.4

Gm3 Raschi (34) 111    2.6

Probably Casey rolls the same 8 out every day, but Renna and Bollweg had strong years with the bat, and if Woodling or Collins doesn't hit in Chicago, maybe there's a swap.  McDonald is the 4th starter should the Yanks advance.

Cubs

CF Hofman (26)  115    4.1

1B Chance (32)  110     1.9

3B Steinfeldt (33) 105  3.2

2B Evers (27)  (LH) 116   4.2

LF Sheckard (30) (LH) 109  2

SS Tinker (28)    99      4.6

RF Schulte (26) (LH) 100     .1

C Moran (33)     72       1.1

P Brown (32)     193      8.5

Bench:

C Archer (26)   71   .7

2B Zimmerman (22)  93  .1

1B Howard (31) (LH) 63

SP2: Overall (28) 179   8.5

SP3: Reulbach (26)  143  5

Archer and Moran are the same guy, light hitting RH catchers, if Chance can get one of them to hit, he'll play.  Kroh will get the nod over Pfiester as the 4th starter if the Cubs move on.

Lineups:

C-Berra

1B-Chance

2B-Evers

SS-Tinker

3B-McDougald

LF-Woodling

CF-Mantle

RF-Bauer, Yanks 5-3 advantage in position players, with a stronger bench, with Yogi, the top position player

SP1-Brown

SP2-Overall

SP3-Reulbach - the Cubs sweep all 3 starting pitchers; the Cubs are pretty similar to that Phillies team, veteran infielders who played together forever and some huge arms.

Pen-Push, Hagerman from the Cubs is the best pen arm, but the Yanks have more depth

Cubs 6 Yanks 5 -- so, Cubs have the home field and the WAR advantage really pushed by those two top starting pitchers who can throw twice.  We'll say its the Cubs who are favored here.

GAME ONE

1st: Lot of unlikely teams still alive in the tournament; neither the '77 Yankees nor the '17 Dodgers were favored to reach anywhere near the Final 8 - and the '11 Phillies came in as the 126th overall seed.  That's not true with these two teams; this matchup was favored at the outset of the tournament.  Throwing for the Cubs is Three Finger Brown; 32 year old RH, 27-9, 1.31. Brown also added 7 saves, leading the league.  1-2-3.

1st: The Yanks go with Eddie Lopat, 35 year old lefty, 16-4, 2.42. Lopat led the league in ERA, ERA+, WHIP and K/9. Harry Steinfeldt singles with one away, nothing results.  

2nd: Gil McDougald singles after 2 outs. McDougald has been the Yanks every day third baseman each year of his 4 year career, he shifts to second next season.  Phil Rizzuto follows with a base hit. Billy Martin reaches via error and the Yanks are on the board.  Lopat comes through with a base hit of his own - and now it's 2-0. Yankees 2 Cubs 0

2nd: 1-2-3, Lopat spent the first 4 years of his career with the cross town White Sox, so he's used to pitching in Chicago.

3rd: Yogi Berra singles to right. Yogi was MVP of the Yanks Round 2 win; he's advanced already to the Final 8, part of Billy's coaching staff with the '77 Yanks. 28 year old Berra has been an All Star 6 straight seasons and finished 2nd in the AL MVP. From '50-56, Yogi was in the top 5 every season.  That's it. 

3rd: Pat Moran doubles with one out - the Cubs have two light hitting right handed catchers, Moran gets the first shot in the series. He's 33, in his final season with the Cubs; they sell him to the Phillies.  That's all Lopat allows.

4th: Billy Martin singles with 2 away; Billy's 25, in his 4th season - he'll play 7 more, but never had more than 500 at bats in any year but this one. That's all Brown allows.

4th: 1-2-3

5th: 1-2-3

5th: Jimmy Sheckard walks, he's 30 - led the league in sacrifices.  He steals second - Lopat gets two, then Moran singles him home and the Cubs are on the board.  Three Finger Brown helps himself with a double - and that's where it ends.  Yanks 2 Cubs 1

6th: Joe Collins walks; the Yankee first baseman was MVP of their round one win.  Collins realy scuffled in the '53 Series, hitting .167. Brown stops it here.  Tight game 1 here at the West Side Grounds.  

6th: Player/manager Frank Chance singles. With a 110 OPS+, this is Chance's lightest year offensively since 1899 when he was 22. Chance steals second - then scores on a Harry Steinfeldt base hit and the Cubs have evened this up.  Johnny Evers singles - Cubs have something going now - after an out, Joe Tinker singles and the Cubs have the lead.  Lopat gets Frank Schulte to ground out - but it scores another run.  That ends Lopat's day, 28 year old RH Tom Gorman is on - he's got a 3.39 ERA. He gets out of it.  Yankees 2 Cubs 4

7th: 1-2-3, Brown's allowed just 5 hits and the Cubs are 6 outs from taking game 1

7th: Solly Hofman doubles with one away. He's 26, been in the league since he was 20 and this is his best year so far with the bat, with a 115 OPS+. That's all Gorman allows.

8th: Gene Woodling singles. Woodling's 30, it's his 11th year - in Woodling's 17 year big league career he led the league in one category one time -- it's this year, in OBP.  Yogi walks - Yanks in business -- Brown toughens through it and now is 3 outs from game one.

8th: Sheckard walks with one away - after the second out Schulte singles - Moran then walks and the bases are loaded.  Henie Zimmerman comes on to hit -- he reaches on an error - there's the insurance run.  Yankees 2 Cubs 5

9th: 27 year old RH Irv Higginbotham has a 2.19 ERA -

McDougald lines to short.

Rizzuto singles.  Billy walks.  Tying run to the plate.

Andy Carey comes on to hit and he grounds out.

And so does Woodling and it's over.

Yankees 2

Cubs 5

WP Brown

LP Lopat 

Sv Higginbotham

8 innings, gave up 6 hits, Brown stops the Yankees in game 1.

Hofman 1x/double

Chance 1x

Steinfeldt 2x

Evers 1x

Sheckard 2x

Tinker 1x

Schulte 1x

Moran 3x/double

Woodling 1x

Berra 2x

Collins 1x

McDougald 1x

Rizzuto 2x

Martin 2x

LF Woodling (30) (LH) 146  3.8

C Berra (28)  (LH)      141   5.6

CF Mantle (21) (SH)  144   4.8

1B Collins (30)  (LH)   120   1.3

RF Bauer (30)     130   3.9

3B McDougald (25)  113  3.7

SS Rizzuto (35)   103   3.4

2B Martin (25)   94       1.5

Gm2 Ford (LH) (24)   123     3.4

CF Hofman (26)  115    4.1

1B Chance (32)  110     1.9

3B Steinfeldt (33) 105  3.2

2B Evers (27)  (LH) 116   4.2

LF Sheckard (30) (LH) 109  2

SS Tinker (28)    99      4.6

RF Schulte (26) (LH) 100     .1

C Moran (33)     72       1.1

SP2: Overall (28) 179   8.5

GAME TWO

1st: Like the '11 Phillies who await the winner of this Regional semi-final, starting pitching has carried the day for the 1909 Cubs. 28 year old RH Orval Overall, MVP in the Cubs round 2 win, is on the hill today. 20-11, 1.42. Overall led the league in Ks and K/9. It's the best year he'll ever have.  1-2-3.

1st: Whitey Ford looks to even the series for New York; 24 year old lefty, 18-6, it's his first year back after 2 spent in the military. Solly Hofman starts with a single and he scores when Frank Chance doubles on the next pitch.  After an out, Johnny Evers doubles and the Cubs are up 2-0. Evers is 27 and it's his 7th year as Chicago's every day second sacker. Yankees 0 Cubs 2

2nd: Joe Collins doubles. New York's first extra base hit of the series. He doesn't score.

2nd: 1-2-3

3rd: 1-2-3

3rd: Hofman singles again, two outs later Steinfeldt walks, that's all.

4th: 1-2-3, 8 straight for Overall. 

4th: 1-2-3

5th: McDougald singles with one out, just the second Yankee hit of the day and nothing happens.

5th: Pat Moran walks with one away, that's all.

6th: Woodling singles with one out, but the Yankees can't dent the scoreboard.

6th: 1-2-3, Ford hasn't given up a hit since the 3rd.

7th: Mickey Mantle singles, it's the first time he's reached. Mantle's 21, it's his third season, second All Star appearance. He'll make the All Star team each subsequent year until '66. Collins then singles and New York's in business - Hank Bauer grounds into a DP, it scores a run. Yankees 1 Cubs 2

7th: Evers walks, and out later Tinker walks - he's 28 in his 8th season as Cub shortstop, Frank Schulte singles and the Cubs get that run back. Ford walks Moran - an Overall sac fly makes it 4-1. Hoffman then doubles - it scores 2, the Cubs up 6-1 and it looks like they've won game 2. Yankees 1 Cubs 6

8th: 1-2-3

8th: 25 year old lefty Bill Miller for the Yanks - 4.76. Harry Steinfeldt doubles, an out later Jimmy Sheckard walks - that's all.

9th: Overall stays on to finish up - Woodling reaches on an error, two outs later Collins walks, and then Bauer singles to load them up.  McDougald reaches on another error - it scores a run - Chance goes to the pen for Higginbotham, and he ends it.

Yankees 2

Cubs 6

WP Overall

LP Ford

Sv Higginbotham

The Yanks get just 6 hits, like Brown in game 1, Overall is just too strong here in game 2 - Higginbotham saves both games.

Hofman 4x/2 doubles

Chance 2x/double

Steinfeldt 4x/double

Evers 3x/double

Sheckard 3x

Tinker 2x

Schulte 2x

Moran 5x/double

Woodling 2x

Mantle 1x

Berra 2x

Collins 4x/double

McDougald 3x

Bauer 1x

Rizzuto 2x

Martin 2x

2B Evers (27)  (LH) 116   4.2

LF Sheckard (30) (LH) 109  2

CF Hofman (26)  115    4.1

1B Chance (32)  110     1.9

RF Schulte (26) (LH) 100     .1

3B Steinfeldt (33) 105  3.2

SS Tinker (28)    99      4.6

C Moran (33)     72       1.1

SP3: Reulbach (26)  143  5

LF Woodling (30) (LH) 146  3.8

C Berra (28)  (LH)      141   5.6

CF Mantle (21) (SH)  144   4.8

1B Collins (30)  (LH)   120   1.3

RF Noren (28) (LH) 103

3B McDougald (25)  113  3.7

SS Rizzuto (35)   103   3.4

2B Martin (25)   94       1.5

Gm3 Raschi (34) 111    2.6

GAME THREE

1st: Hard not to start thinking about a Phillies/Cubs Regional Final, given the similarities between those two squads, but 34 year old RH Vic Raschi stands on the Yankee Stadium mound looking to hold that matchup for another day.  13-6, 3.33. It's Raschi's last season in New York and his last good year. He walks Jimmy Sheckard with one away and nothing else.

1st: Cubs MVP in their round one win was 26 year old RH Ed Reulbach, 19-10, 1.78. Mickey Mantle singles with one out, time for the Mick to get it going if the Yanks are going to stick around. That's it.

2nd: Harry Steinfeldt draws a one out walk, Joe Tinker walks - and Pat Moran, unlikely hitting star, reaches for the sixth time in the series with a run scoring single.  Johnny Evers walks after the second out, That's all.  Yankees 0 Cubs 1

2nd: Gil McDougald walks with one out, that's all.

3rd: Solly Hofman singles - he's now reached 5 times.  2 outs later Steinfeldt walks, Raschi holds them.

3rd: The Yankees just haven't gotten things going at all in this series; after an out, Woodling and Berra single back to back, Mantle hits a sac fly that ties the score.  Joe Collins then singles - but that's it.  Yankees 1 Cubs 1

4th: Pat Moran doubles - again; Pat Moran!  Evers walks an out later and then a Sheckard sac fly puts the Cubs back on top.  Cubs 2 Yankees 1

4th: Scooter singles with one away, that's it.

5th: Frank Schulte singles with one away, that's all.

5th: Yogi singles with one away, an out later Collins walks - but the Yanks can't capitalize.

6th: 1-2-3, Raschi has allowed just 4 hits.

6th: 1-2-3, Reulbach maintains the lead, the Cubs 3 outs from a sweep.

7th: Tom Gorman on the mound for New York - 1-2-3, Yankee pitching giving their side a chance today.

7th: Woodling singles with one away - but again, New York does not score and now are 6 outs from elimination.

8th: Gorman hits Chance, then walks Schulte, but he gets the next 3, the Yanks are still in this thing.

8th: Collins and Noren walk.  Big spot here - Reulbach induces a big double play -- but then Rizzuto triples to score the tying run.  Irv Higginbotham comes on - gets out of it.  Cubs 2 Yankees 2

9th: 9th inning, deadlocked - Yanks need to win to stay alive; Evers hits a one out single, Casey goes to the pen for 36 year old RH Allie Reynolds, 13 wins, 13 saves, 3.41. He gets through it and we head to the bottom.

9th: 23 year old RH Rip Hagerman for the Cubs, 1.82 ERA - he's the best bullpen arm in the series - he walks Woodling with one out - then Mantle singles with two outs -- winning run in scoring position -- but they don't get it.

10th: The Yanks go with 35 year old RH Ray Scarborough, 3.29. 1-2-3

10th: Irv Noren singles - Noren got the start in place of Hank Bauer today, Casey looking to get another lefty bat in the lineup. Chance goes to the pen -- and he goes with the Game 2 winner Orval Overall - that's a big decision, that's going to knock Overall out of a potential game 5 winner take all start if the Yankees can get there.  Chance wants to knock New York out right now. Overall walks McDougald - winning run now in scoring position with nobody out -- and then Rizzuto walks.  

Bases loaded.  Nobody out.  2-2 game.  Martin fly ball to left -- Sheckard catches - Sheckard throws home -- Noren slides in under the tag -- ballgame.

Cubs 2

Yankees 3

WP Scarborough

LP Hagerman

The Yanks escape; taking game 3 in extras and forcing the series to go at least one more day. Chicago got just 5 hits - the Cubs don't score after the 4th inning.

Woodling 5x

Mantle 3x

Berra 4x

Collins 7x/double

McDougald 5x

Noren 2x

Bauer 1x

Rizzuto 5x/triple

Martin 2x

Hofman 5x/2 doubles

Chance 2x/double

Steinfeldt 6x/double

Evers 6x/double

Sheckard 4x

Tinker 3x

Schulte 4x

Moran 7x/2 doubles

CF Hofman (26)  115    4.1

1B Chance (32)  110     1.9

3B Steinfeldt (33) 105  3.2

2B Evers (27)  (LH) 116   4.2

LF Sheckard (30) (LH) 109  2

SS Tinker (28)    99      4.6

RF Schulte (26) (LH) 100     .1

C Moran (33)     72       1.1

P Brown (32)     193      8.5

LF Woodling (30) (LH) 146  3.8

C Berra (28)  (LH)      141   5.6

CF Mantle (21) (SH)  144   4.8

1B Collins (30)  (LH)   120   1.3

RF Bauer (30)     130   3.9

3B McDougald (25)  113  3.7

SS Rizzuto (35)   103   3.4

2B Martin (25)   94       1.5

P Lopat (LH) (35)       152     3.9

GAME FOUR

1st: The Yankees are still alive and if they can force a game 5 - the Cubs will be without their scheduled starter, having used Overall out of the pen in game 3.  Eddie Lopat comes out to the mound for New York - He pitched in one game in the '53 Series and beat the Dodgers, complete game, 2 earned. 1-2-3

1st: Three Finger Brown's the best pitcher in this series, true in their respective seasons, true in this series. Woodling singles.  He's reached 6 times.  Nothing results.  

2nd: 1-2-3

2nd: Rizzuto hits a 2 out single. He's reached 6 times -- and he comes all the way around to score on a Billy Martin triple.  Martin had 6 triples all year - this one's bigger than all of them and gives New York a lead.  Cubs 0 Yankees 1

3rd: 1-2-3, 9 up, 9 down.

3rd: Another single for Woodling.  Again, nothing. 

4th: 1-2-3, 12 up, 12 down.

4th: 1-2-3

5th: Sheckard singles with one out, the Cubs have a baserunner.  Lopat strands him.

5th: Lopat walks with one out - that's it.  

6th: 1-2-3, Eddie Lopat - what more can you say?  35 year old lefthander has given up just one baserunner in a must win game for the Yanks.  

6th: Joe Collins singles with one away - he's reached 8 times.  He doesn't score.  Helluva game.

7th: Can Lopat find 9 more outs and send this series back to Chicago? Frank Chance singles and a wild pitch sends him to second.  Lopat gets an out - then gives up a Johnny Evers triple and the score is tied at 1.  Lopat's done - Tom Gorman comes on for the Yanks - gets out of it.  Cubs 1 Yankees 1

7th: 1-2-3

8th: 1-2-3, the Yankee pen was great in game 3 - Gorman leading the way and here he is again. Gorman's in his second season, they'll sell him to the A's in '55. 

8th: Yogi singles with one away; 6th Yankee hit of the day - after an out, Collins singles, but Brown ends the inning here and we're still all tied at 1.

9th: Hofman walks.  Yogi throws him out trying to swipe second; Gorman gets the second, then gives up a Steinfeldt single and hits Evers. 2 on.  2 out. All tied at a run.  Big spot.

Sheckard grounds to Collins - he takes it to the bag and Gorman holds on.  Big couple of days for Gorman.

9th: 1-2-3 -- Brown goes all 9 - and again we head to extras.  

10th: Allie Reynolds now gets the ball.  He's an All Star at the age of 36; next year is his final season. He gets one - but then Schulte reached on an error and, of course - it's Pat Moran who hits the big blow of the series; a double that scores the go ahead run. Ray Scarborough enters, finishes the inning.  The Cubs are 3 outs from the win.  Cubs 2 Yankees 1

10th: Irv Higginbotham comes on - is he about to end this series?

Don Bollweg is on to hit -- grounds to first - Chance keeps it.  

Woodling strikes out.

Yogi hits a screaming line drive -- Evers lays out and snares it and its over.  

Cubs 2

Yankees 1

WP Brown

LP Reynolds

Sv Higginbotham

Tinker jumps atop his double play partner - Moran runs to the mound - here come the Cubs from the dugout - the 1909 Cubs have won this series and move to the Region 3 Final.

Hofman 6x/2 doubles

Steinfeldt 7x/double

Evers 7x/double, triple

Moran 8x/3 doubles

Pat Moran played in 77 games this season; hit .220 -- but reached more than any other Cub, had more extra base hits than any other Cub, and won the series in the 10th today.

He's the MVP.

128 Team MLB Tournament - Regional Semi-Final: 1904 NL Champion New York Giants v. 2011 NL East Champion Philadelphia Phillies

 Region 2 Final

30. 1904 NL Champion New York Giants v. 126. 2011 NL East Champion Philadelphia Phillies 

And now we turn to Region 3 - whomever wins this series will be the road team in the Regional Final as the two highest seeds (the last Tinker/Evers/Chance team and a 50s Yankees squad) are facing off in the other semi-final.  Huge disparity here in seeding and in time, nearly a hundred spots and over a hundred years.  

Giants 106-47 (Pythag: 106-47) Mgr. John McGraw

Won NL Pennant

d. #99 1925 Pirates 2-1 (MVP-Mike Donlin)

d. #94 2017 Astros 3-2 (MVP-Joe McGinnity)

Hall of Famers:  Roger Bresnahan, Dan Brouthers, Christy Mathewson, Joe McGinnity, John McGraw, Jim O'Rourke

The Giants won the pennant - but refused to play in the World Series, which had begun the prior season. Mathewson/McGinnity combined for 68 wins. 

Phillies 102-60 (Pythag 103-59) Mgr. Charlie Manuel (4th in NL Mgr of Year)

1st in NL East

Lost NLDS 3-2 to Cardinals

d. #3 1906 Cubs 2-0 (MVP-Roy Halladay)

d. #62 1999 Yankees 3-0 (MVP-Hunter Pence)

All-Stars: SP Roy Halladay (2nd in NL Cy Young) SP Cole Hamels (5th in NL Cy Young) SP Cliff Lee (3rd in NL Cy Young) 3B Placido Polanco, OF Shane Victorino

Hall of Famers: Roy Halladay

This was the Phillies 5th straight NL East title and the second straight year they had the best record in MLB. They won the division by 13 games. They lost game 5 of the NLDS 1-0 at home to St Louis. 

Phillies

CF Victorino (30) (LH)  130  5.4

2B Utley (32)    (LH)      110  3.5

1B Howard (31)  (LH)    126  1.9

RF Pence (28)         159   2.1

LF Mayberry (27)   131  2

SS Rollins (32)  (SH)      101  3.5

C Ruiz (32)             108  2.6

3B Polanco (35)      86    2.3

P Halladay (34)       163 7.8

Bench

LF Ibanez (39) (LH) 91

RF Brown (23) (LH) 98

3B Valdez (33) 74

RF Francisco (29) 94

3B Martinez (28) (SH) 48

C Schneider (34) (LH) 38

1B Gload (35) (LH) 65

Game 2 SP: Lee (LH) (32)  160  8.1

Game 3 SP: Hamels (LH) (27)  137  6.1

The Phils will look to throw out the same 8 each game; they have some corner OF flexibility; the Giants fire all RH starters and if Mayberry/Pence struggle in New York, there's a possibility of a platoon based swap.  It'll be Worley, not Oswalt as the 4th starter if the Phils advance.  

Giants

CF Bresnahan (25)   139  3.5

3B Devlin (24)         119   5.3

LF Mertes (31)         123  3.7

2B Dunn (31)           132   1.7

RF Donlin (26)   (LH)      130  .6

1B McGann (32) (SH)     124  4.4

SS Dahlen (34)        100   5.2

C Bowerman (35)  83   1.6

P McGinnity (33)    170    7.5

Bench:

C Warner (31)   (LH)       47     1.1

2B Gilbert (28)      94    3.3

CF McCormick (23) (LH) 110

RF Browne (28)   (LH) 105  1.7

Gm2 SP: Mathewson (23) 134  7

Gm3 SP: Taylor (29)   117         3.8

McGraw is in the same spot as Manuel; his plan coming in is to roll out the same 8 every day - however, he's got multiple left handed bats sitting on the bench, ready to pop in game 4 if the RH don't hit Halladay the first time around.  Also - Gilbert is the regular second baseman, but Dunn has more bat - that's a decision  to be revisited when the series goes to Philadelphia.  Wiltse, the lefty, will get the 4th slot over Ames should the Giants advance.

Lineups:

C-Ruiz, Bresnahan didn't catch a game all season, so he's staying in the OF for the Giants

1B-McGann

2B-Utley, he and Gilbert are very close in WAR, but Gilbert might not see the field as McGraw looks for some extra offense.

SS-Dahlen

3B-Devlin

LF-Mertes

CF-Victorino

RF-Pence, so, position players are deadlocked, the Giants have more aggregate WAR

SP1-Push

SP2-Lee

SP3-Hamels

Pen-Phils

Phils 7 Giants 4 -- The Giants have a strong rotation, but the Phils is a little better and the bullpen is significantly better - the best players in this series are all starting pitchers.  Giants have a much better seed - man...we'll say by the narrowest of margins the Giants are favored here, but these Phillies starters have rolled through the region so far.

GAME ONE

1st:  Region 3 begins with 33 year old Joe McGinnity standing on the Polo Grounds mound.  He was MVP of the Giants Round 2 win over the Astros. 35-8, 1.61. McGinnity led the league in wins this year, in winning percentage, in ERA, in ERA+, in WHIP. He gives up a leadoff single to Shane Victorino; gets 2 then gives up a Hunter Pence single. John Mayberry then singles home a run and it's the Phillies who score the first run of the Region 3 Semi-Finals.  Phillies 1 Giants 0

1st: Roy Halladay gets the call for the Phillies. These Phillies have yet to lose a game in the tournament; Halladay was their Round 1 MVP.  34 year old RH, 19-6, 2.35. Doc led the league in complete games, ERA+, FIP, BB/9, K/BB.  He made the All Star team was 2nd in the Cy Young and 9th in the MVP.  Art Devlin singles with one away, that's all.

2nd: 1-2-3

2nd: Jack Dunn singles; he's a 31 year old utilityman, but McGraw thought the Giants could use all the bat they could muster against this Phillies staff.  It's Dunn's final year in the big leagues, his OPS+ this year more than doubled his career average. That's all.

3rd: Victorino reaches on an error, an out later, Ryan Howard singles.  The 31 year old Howard finished 10th in the NL MVP this year.  A Pence sac fly scores the second run of the game.  Phillies 2 Giants 0

3rd: 1-2-3

4th: Placido Polanco singles with 2 away, the 35 year old third baseman made just the second All Star team of his career this year.  He also won his third Gold Glove.  That's it.

4th: Devlin singles again, again with one away.  Devlin's a 24 year old rookie third baseman; he's McGraw's every day third baseman for 7 years.  An out later Sam Mertes singles, that's all.

5th: 1-2-3

5th: Mike Donlin singles, the 26 year old RF played just 42 games for the Giants this year, acquired from the Reds during the season (much like the Phillies acquired their RF, Pence). That's all Halladay allows.  Not surprising we have a tight, low scoring game in this one.

6th: John Mayberry singles with one away.  Mayberry was hitless in 4 at bats in the '11 postseason and never gets another shot.  An out later Carlos Ruiz walks - that's all.

6th: Roger Bresnahan walks with one away.  Bresnahan had a 17 year big league career and in almost all of them he caught, 973 career games behind the dish; this year, he didn't catch a single game.  An out later Devlin walks -- that's all.  Halladay keeps that shutout.

7th: Shane Victorino singles with one away, his second hit.  Victorino's 30, he made his second All Star team this year and led the league in triples.  McGinnity strands him.

7th: You looked at this series and saw pitching - and that's been true so far.  1-2-3, just 5 hits allowed for Doc Halladay.  

8th: McGinnity gets one -- and then Mayberry homers to left, is that the dagger?  Phillies 3 Giants 0

8th: Bill Dahlen singles. The 34 year old shortstop led the league in RBI.  Frank Bowerman reaches by error and after an out Halladay hits Bresnahan and the Giants have loaded the bases with just one away.  Devlin singles -- scores a run.  That's the end of the day for Halladay, Manuel turns to 24 year old RH Michael Stutes, 3.63. He gets out of it.  Phillies 3 Giants 1

9th: 1-2-3

9th: The Phillies closer is 30 year old RH Ryan Madson; 32 saves and a 2.37 ERA. 

Donlin grounds to Polanco.  One away.

Dan McGann grounds to Rollins.  Two away.  

Dahlen grounds to Polanco -- easy inning for Madson and the Phillies get game one.

Phillies 3

Giants 1

WP Halladay

LP McGinnity

Sv Madson

The Phils swept the '06 Cubs and the '99 Yankees and they take game one here.  

Victorino 2x

Howard 1x

Pence 1x

Mayberry 3x/HR

Ruiz 1x

Polanco 1x

Bresnahan 2x

Devlin 4x

Mertes 1x

Dunn 1x

Donlin 1x

Dahlen 1x

CF Victorino (30) (LH)  130  5.4

2B Utley (32)    (LH)      110  3.5

1B Howard (31)  (LH)    126  1.9

RF Pence (28)         159   2.1

LF Mayberry (27)   131  2

SS Rollins (32)  (SH)      101  3.5

C Ruiz (32)             108  2.6

3B Polanco (35)      86    2.3

Game 2 SP: Lee (LH) (32)  160  8.1

CF Bresnahan (25)   139  3.5

2B Dunn (31)           132   1.7

LF Mertes (31)         123  3.7

3B Devlin (24)         119   5.3

1B McGann (32) (SH)     124  4.4

RF Donlin (26)   (LH)      130  .6

SS Dahlen (34)        100   5.2

C Bowerman (35)  83   1.6

Gm2 SP: Mathewson (23) 134  7

GAME TWO

1st: The Phillies came into the tournament seeded #126 of #128 and they haven't lost since. 6 straight wins and looking to stop that run is the legendary Christy Mathewson. 23 year old RH, 33-12, 2.03. Mathewson led the league in Ks in '04, he'd do that 5 times in his 17 year career. 1-2-3

1st: Cliff Lee looks to send this series to Philly with the Phils just needing a game to advance. He's a 32 year old lefty, 17-8, 2.40. This is Lee's first year in Philadelphia; he led the league in shutouts and finished 3rd in the Cy Young. 1-2-3

2nd: 1-2-3

2nd: 1-2-3

3rd: After an out, Mathewson hits Polanco and the Phils have their first baserunner. After the second out, Shane Victorino gets the first hit of the day - but that's all.

3rd: 1-2-3, 9 up, 9 down for Lee.  

4th: Ryan Howard doubles and Hunter Pence walks.  Pence is 28, came over from the Astros during the season played in 54 games for the Phils. Struggled in the '11 postseason, he hit .211. Mathewson gets the next 3.  

4th: Roger Bresnahan singles for the first Giants baserunner.  He then swipes second and scores on a Jack Dunn single and the Giants take the lead.  Sam Mertes then walks; Mertes gets the start in left today against the lefty Lee. He led the league in RBI last year.  Lee sets down the next 3.  Phils 0 Giants 1

5th: Cliff Lee helps himself with a one out single and then Victorino singles again - but that's all.

5th: 1-2-3, Lee's allowed just 2 hits.

6th: Pence walks with one out; Pence was the MVP of the Phils round 2 win. But that's all.  Pitching - pitching - this series is about pitching.  

6th: 1-2-3, 9 straight for Lee - we head to the 7th, great pitchers duel again here at the Polo Grounds.  

7th: Carlos Ruiz singles.  The 32 year old catcher is a year away from his only ever All Star appearance. Polanco singles - the Phils are in business. Domonic Brown comes on to hit for Lee; he's throwing a 2 hitter but Manuel goes to the bench -- and Brown singles.  And now we're in the big spot of the day - big spot of the series so far - bases loaded, nobody out - Phils down a run.  Victorino hits a sac fly to tie the score at 1.  Chase Utley, who has already advanced to the Elite 8 with the 2017 Dodgers, then singles and the Phils have taken the lead.  Ryan Howard grounds out - it scores the third run of the inning.  That's it for Mathewson; Billy Milligan is a 25 year old lefty with a 5.40 ERA - the big disadvantage the Giants have in the series is right here, it's the bullpen. And it comes into play on a Hunter Pence triple -- that scores the 4th run  Phillies 4 Giants 1

7th: Michael Stutes again gets the call from the Philly pen.  Mike Donlin singles with 2 away, but nothing else results.  

8th: Jimmy Rollins walks. Double play partners Rollins and Utley are both 32; Rollins hit .450 against the Cards in the '11 NLDS. McGraw calls on his 5th starter, Red Ames, a 21 year old RH with a 2.27 ERA. Ames gets through it.  

8th: The Phils are now 6 outs away from their 7 straight tournament win.  Bresnahan walks after 2 are away and Manuel turns to the pen for 25 year old RH David Herndon. 3.32. He gives up a base hit to Dunn - but that's all.  

9th: Utley singles with one out -- and then Ryan Howard ends this one with a 2 run shot -- it's the Phillies again - this team which didn't win a playoff round in 2011 is storming through the greatest MLB tournament ever created.  Pence singles. Mayberry singles.  Rollins singles and there's another run.  Ames hits Ruiz; that's all - but that's enough -- Phillies 7 Giants 1

9th: Herndon gets 2 - gives up a Donlin single and that is all.

Phillies 7

Giants 1

WP Lee

LP Mathewson

Just 5 hits for the Giants in this one - the Phillies have won all 7 games they've played in the tournament and now head home for Game 3, looking to close out this semi-final.  3 RBI for Howard today.

Victorino 4x

Utley 3x

Howard 3x/double, HR

Pence 5x/triple

Mayberry 4x/HR

Rollins 2x

Ruiz 3x

Polanco 3x

Bresnahan 4x

Devlin 4x

Mertes 2x

Dunn 3x

Donlin 3x

Dahlen 1x

CF Bresnahan (25)   139  3.5

SS Dunn (31)           132   1.7

LF Mertes (31)         123  3.7

3B Devlin (24)         119   5.3

1B McGann (32) (SH)     124  4.4

RF Donlin (26)   (LH)      130  .6

2B Gilbert (28)      94    3.3

C Bowerman (35)  83   1.6

Gm3 SP: Taylor (29)   117         3.8

CF Victorino (30) (LH)  130  5.4

2B Utley (32)    (LH)      110  3.5

1B Howard (31)  (LH)    126  1.9

RF Pence (28)         159   2.1

LF Mayberry (27)   131  2

SS Rollins (32)  (SH)      101  3.5

C Ruiz (32)             108  2.6

3B Polanco (35)      86    2.3

Game 3 SP: Hamels (LH) (27)  137  6.1

GAME THREE

1st: Citizens Bank Park, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, you want a rabid fan base? How about a Philly crowd whose team is now 7-0 in this tournament and a game away from the Region 3 Final?  27 year old lefty Cole Hamels is on the mound; 14-9, 2.79. Hamels made his second All Star team this year, finished 5th in the Cy Young. Won his only playoff start this year, going 6 scoreless. 1-2-3

1st: The Giants turn to Dummy Taylor. 29 year old RH, 21-15, 2.34. It's his only 20 game winning season. Shane Victorino triples. He's now reached 5 times. After an out, Ryan Howard walks, Taylor escapes. 

2nd: 1-2-3

2nd: Taylor gets 2 - then back to back singles by Polanco and Hamels.  Victorino triples again - Victorino has triples in both the first and second innings of game 3 and now it's 2-0 and this crowd is frenzied. Giants 0 Phillies 2

3rd: Frank Boweman singles with one away; after the second out Roger Bresnahan doubles him home.  Jack Dunn singles - Hamels stops it here.  Giants 1 Phillies 2

3rd: 1-2-3

4th: Mike Donlin singles with 2 away - Billy Gilbert's in the lineup for the first time in the series and he singles.  Gilbert's OPS+ was 94 this year - best he'll ever have.  Bowerman then singles again and the Giants have tied this score.  Giants 2 Phillies 2

4th: Polanco hits a 2 out single and nothing results.  

5th: Mertes singles with 2 out - and is stranded.  

5th: Taylor gets one - walks Utley - gets the second - Pence singles - and then Mayberry singles and the Phils are back in front as we head to the 6th.  Giants 2 Phillies 3

6th: 1-2-3

6th: 1-2-3

7th: Bowerman singles with one away - after the second out Bresnahan walks.  Dunn comes through with a base hit that ties the score and chases Hamels.  Michael Stutes is on again, and gives up a Mertes single - that scores another run and it's the Giants who take a 4-3 lead.  Giants 4 Phillies 3

7th: Victorino walks, Taylor gets a double play to wipe him off the bases -- but then gives up a towering game tying homer to Ryan Howard -- there's a curtain call by these Philly fans for the big first baseman and we are once again all knotted up.  Giants 4 Phillies 4

8th: 1-2-3

8th: 1-2-3

9th: Here we are in the 9th; 4-4, Phillies a run away from sweeping this series and advancing to the Region 3 Final.  Stutes gets 2 - then gives up a Bresnahan double.  There's the go ahead run in scoring position.  Manuel calls on his closer Ryan Madson, who saved game 1.  And he gets out of it.

9th: Billy Milligan is on again for McGraw - can the Giants bullpen hold on?  Milligan gets 2 and then gives up a Victorino single.  That brings McGraw out he goes with Joe McGinnity - great in game 1, scheduled to go in a Game 4 if the Giants get there -- but not anymore; McGraw uses that bullet here in the bottom of the 9th and McGinnity gets out of it.  

10th: David Herndon is on again for the Phillies.  1-2-3

10th: 1-2-3

11th: 1-2-3, Herndon retires all 6 Giants he faces

11th: McGinnity gets the first and then Ruiz singles.  That's the winning run.  But McGinnity strands it.

12th: 33 year old RH Danys Baez is the least effective option in the Phillies pen, a 6.25 ERA - can the Giants take advantage? 1-2-3; the Giants have 1 hit in the last 5 innings. 

12th: Red Ames for the Giants. He gives up a Victorino single, that's it.

13th: Mertes opens with a single, Baez gets the next 3.

13th: Mayberry singles with one away; he's erased on a Rollins fielders choice - Carlos Ruiz doubles to left -- Rollins running on the pitch -- Mertes hits the cutoff man - the throw home --

Safe.  

Giants 4

Phillies 5

WP Baez

LP Ames

Absolute pandemonium here in Philly - Rollins comes all the way around from first on the Ruiz double to score the winning run here in the 13th inning - the Phillies complete the sweep - remaining perfect in the tournament - the Phillies dugout pours out atop Rollins at home plate; Rollins mad dash all the way from first base on the double to left - the 2011 Phillies advance to the Region 3 Final.

Victorino 9x/2 triples

Howard 5x/double, 2 HR

Mayberry 6x/HR

Ruiz 5x/game winning double

4 contenders for the MVP - Victorino reached the most, including 5 times today with the 2 triples; Howard had two homers, Mayberry homered, and Ruiz won today's game.  

We'll say...Victorino is your MVP.